Ahon Sanitasyon

An infrastructure development program of stand-alone
sanitation facility in low-income communities.

Ahon Sanitasyon

According to WHO and UNICEF in 2017, 5% of Filipinos still lack access to proper sanitary toilets and practice open defecation. Proper sanitation, with safe water and hygiene, are fundamental to good health and to socioeconomic development. Poor access to proper sanitation leads to the transmission of water-borne diseases and strips away dignity and safety, especially among women and children. This is the reason why Ahon Sanitasyon, Manila Water Foundation’s flagship program on sanitation, has been conceptualized.

In 2019, MWF provided a public toilet just in time for the celebration of World Toilet Day, globally observed every November 19. In partnership with Laguna Water, the Foundation turned over a three-cubicle public toilet at a coastal community at Barangay Malaban in Biñan City, Laguna. Barangay Chair Dennis Salandanan expressed his gratitude for granting the facility which is located by the Barangay Health Center which accommodates visitors daily. “Ang aming health center, araw-araw po ay puno. (Our health center is full of people daily),” he said. “Malaking tulong po talaga ang binigay na facility na ito sa aming barangay. Sana po hiling ko lang po tuluy-tuloy lang po ang programa niyo. Laking pasalamat ko po na [binabahagi] ‘yung blessing na ito dito sa atin (This facility is a huge help for our barangay. I only wish that this program will be continuously implemented.I am grateful that this blessing has been given to our community),” he said.

Aside from the public toilet, Manila Water Foundation also assisted the local government of Aroroy, Masbate in producing a septage management plan feasibility study which will benefit around a hundred thousand residents.

The program aims to promote proper sewage management and sanitation practices for all communities. By the end of 2019, Ahon Sanitasyon was able to provide sanitation interventions to 130,165 residents.